On Tuesday, NHL insider David Pagnotta, among other reports surrounding Dylan Larkin's trade situation, cemented that the Montreal Canadiens are extremely interested in the Detroit Red Wings center.
Speaking on the radio show Morning Cuppa Hockey, Pagnotta said some teams have circled back to Detroit to say they would be interested if Larkin's trade list were to grow, and he noted that Montreal is among them. Other reports from around the hockey world suggest the Habs would pull the trigger on a Larkin deal in a heartbeat if given the opportunity.
Center depth has become a focal point across the NHL in recent years after Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett helped the Florida Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the Carolina Hurricanes have leaned on Sebastian Aho, Logan Stankoven and Jordan Staal this past season.
Depth up the middle has never been more important and with Montreal coming up just three wins away from returning to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2021, they would love to add another difference maker down the middle and Larkin looks like the best available answer.
Montreal Canadiens desperately need another Top 6 center
Nick Suzuki is a bona fide top-line center, and Alex Newhook, Phillip Danault, and Jake Evans are all solid options behind him. However, to keep pace with other contenders, though, Montreal is missing a truly lethal second-line center.
Should a similar offer land on the Red Wings' desk for Larkin, it would be hard to imagine the Red Wings turning it down. Seravalli also reportedly heard from one NHL front office executive that Montreal could end the Larkin saga if given the chance.
The roster would also suit him as Larkin would join fellow notable American players Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble and most notably Chris Kreider, who recently chose Montreal over staying in the United States because he saw a better chance to win with the Habs.
Larkin recently returned to Detroit's lineup after missing the first two games of the season with a reported upper-body injury, and he came back with a bang. He scored his first goal of the season, added an assist and picked up a roughing minor at the end of the second period, coming close to a Gordie Howe hat trick.
At 30, he showed that if he stays in Detroit for the rest of the season, he will be committed to helping the team win. Montreal, meanwhile, is hoping he will eventualy budge and waive his no-move to head to Quebec.
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